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A DISSERTATION
OS
LOCKS AND LOCKPICKING,
AND THE
PRINCIPLES OF BURGLAR PROOFING:
SHOWING THE
ADVANTAGES ATTENDING THE USE OF
THE MAGIC INFALLIBLE BANK- LOCK, THE
INFALLIBLE SAFE LOCK,
AND THE PATENT DOOR LOCK.
INVENTED BY
LINUS Y A LE, Jr.,
(LATE OF NEWPORT, N )
AND UIS
PATENT CHILLED IRON BURGLAR-PROOF BASK DOOR
VAULTS, AND SAFES,
TVHICII ARE ADOPTED BY THE
U. S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE NEW MINTS
CUSTOM-HOUSES, AND SUB-TREASURIES IN
THE UNITED STATES.
MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY
L I N Ug YALE, Jr., & CO.,
No. 2 WALNUT* STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
o. 152 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
PHILADELPHIA:
T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS.
1856.
\ C
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.
IIavi d that the B on Lock \< presented to the pulil
inter* es, as the Tale L with the evident intention ol ell-
the r< lion our Mr. Linns Vale, Jr., has obtain e<
by _- I D (J N"i well, or 11 >l>bg, and other lucks, it is dne i
ke the following at. The Bacon Pin Lock wt
i> nd ented, mai ars sinci by Mr. Linns Xal< n.. the
bei ur I ! us Sale, .J ild the patenl to Mr. Bacon,
t, by whom the I k i io\ i nfactnred. The Lock
we mai ad has been
i, both in England and tfce United Stat It ie pro
thi • ' Linni Yali . nor Mr. J «>n, h
tion with ir in
CONTENTS,
C II ] .
mi:
I .-. I
|
"I
as, a
1ST OF
CHAPTER I.
D option of L. Yale Jr.'s, Magic Infallible Ban* Lock-Table of Permuta-
hons-Spnngles^ Principle-Unpickable and Powder-proof Qualities-Key
Pate a n^O ffi ^ ? k ^ H fff'f ^^consciously restored to it-Notice by
Til ° ♦ ♦ Examiner-Infallible Safe Lock also Unpickable, Small Key
p lea ant to carry-Patent Door Lock, a Secure Fastening-L. Yale Jr *s
Chi led Iron Doors, and Safes cast on Wrought Mesh Work! pefectly Impr^:
^ered^ * ™*> ^
The following is a description of L. Yale, Jr.'s, Burglar Proof Bank
Locks Doors and Safes, which are offered by us as the most perfect
and reliable safeguards against burglars, fire, and damp, ever presented
to the public, and which, as such, have been adopted by the United
States Treasury Department, for all the new Sub-Treasuries, Mints
and Custom Houses, and also by a large and increasing number of
bankers, brokers, and merchants, and the community at large.
VV inlst not wishing to make any invidious comparison between these
and the many good locks now in use, we claim for these, as has been
acknowledged by those qualified to judge, that they are the most per-
fect and the simplest locks in the world. Being powder-proof, and
lly requiring one simple turn of the key, like the most common door
lock, and not an application of a wrench in four or more different
places neither a variety of motions with one wrench, they also require
no light nor effort of memory. They have all, and more than all the
advantages of the best locks, and have none of the defects so common
in the complicated contriv-
ances heretofore used.
It has been demonstrated
by Mr Hobbs, that "any
lock which leaves its tumblers
or stops exposed to sight or
feeling through the key-hole,
while they can be made to
touch the fence or stump,
may be easily picked," and
Mr. Yale has lately demon-
strated, in addition to the
above proposition, " that any
lock which is operated with
a winged key that rubs an
impression on the edges of
the tumblers is equally un-
safe," from which defects these
locks are free.
i
/?.
■
4
We request your attention to the following peculiarities of L. Yale,
Jr.'s, Magic Infallible Bank Lock.
1. Being without springs, there are none to fail ; it is impossible to
injure it by fire, dampness, or 1 iect; Bprings, by becoming rusty or
softening by the heat of a conflagration, are often usele at the m
critical juncture, when the vault or safe must then be mutilated to get at
its contents.
2. Absolute security from ] ticking is attaint by the lock detaching
the head with its key-bits, from the handle, carrying it about three
inches from the key-hole, from which it is then separated by a steel
plate ground to fit tight; it is, therefore, impossible to introduce a
picking wire for want of space, and no plastic substance can be intro-
duced to take the print of the tumblers, and t. >e never being exposed
to lit or 1 ling, this lock is entirely unpickable.
3. When the key is withdrawn, all print or record of its action is
obliterated, and no tell-tale left.
4. This lock is powder-proof. No powder can possibly be introduced
into the lock itself; the key-hole alone can be loaded, which, from its
strength and shape, can be no more injured by the explosion of gun-
powder, than a pistol barrel of equal size.
5. This is a ] mutation lock, requiring the k only to be hanged,
when any new combination in locking out is required ; the key itself
changing the lock to the desired combination, < chi These keys,
fri i their iliar construction, are capable of a vastly greater number
of changes than the key of any other lock made of a similar number
of tumblers. The following table sho t a glano e comparison
between this and other keys, and the number of tlmir chan lal can
be made on each one, showing that the attempt to ring them in detail,
even with the true key, to be entirely hopeless.
f Lock. >' Tumb) Ko. of r in No. of i mges in 1 N ■ i - that
ordinary perrau- of th< Infalli- canbem n 1 1 >
i. ble BauL I. >ck.
Bank Lock itself.
1 Eight 4e .'0 4,314,240 ll»<M>00,000
2 Six 720 33.140 1,000,000
3 Five 3,840 lnii.dOO
6. Should a key of the Magic Infallible be lost or stolen, the bits of
the duplicate ke} an be set up to unlock the door ; on rearranging
the on a new i nbination, the lost key will be powerle - open
the door.
7. The portability of the key recommends it over most bank lock
k' s. Instead of carrying the whole k the key pod, with the bit
atl 1 to it (about the n/.e of a hazel-nut), can be detached from the
handle and carried without inconvenience in the vest pocket or wallet.
The handle, b : useless without the d hed pod, j be hung up
in any nvenient place.
8. E\ motion of every part of the lock ie derived from, and iven
by, the ki alone, and is, therefore, under tin atroloftbe band which
operates it, unlike spring locks, which if clog d by nisi or dirt, their
motion- derived from the spring are beyond the control of the operator,
and ily accessible by tearing open the vault, d afe.
'.4. This lock ]-. therefore, fire, powder, damp, and thief proof, and not
liable to get out of order, being made by first class machinists.
5
rnest of our « lence in il we offer iOOO to any one who
k on ; f our burglar pi vault do
iillei
1 ' following (I • !i ol li ck may be found in tl Patent
Mli' l; lort for 1852- . \ 6, by Examiner B. 15. R k,
'I mi -, m of the imperfect model first nt the Paten
i it hi been much improved, and in fact, perfected :
iii' nrl it app< to me, a . i„
f this lock is ii*i rl of
jrlindri Idisksofdifl mt siz The key-hole i
in, and when op onnection with th
interior i Th tached to th
"'•' '"i», I whe rat introduc md commei u
tion of the lock is I , , . i
he turns, the former is c led in th< lindrical tvit om I
block api the pi f t he cyl ler
rid lif, the md b
u i motion, the i -It i i Anally r< A r<
the bolt, drops the tumblei arri the ke beneatl
•'ii -i it tl. rid when the latter is tui
I' 1 nd I. Powder en :h to till th. rlindc II t
d 'I iiM'» the loci 'I i cpli -n th i dam it u<> m< ild
tol I rel of tl It ii i
ii' ml) r, and 1 h le t
L. YALE, JR.'S, INFALLIBLE SAFE LOCK,
1 d for fire-proof sal h dooi «fc
fallible Bank I is without sprii id
(lately pr t powder, fire, damp, and
tin By thrusting the li into tin
bh are arranj I, when it should then be
withdrawn. On turnin knob, the k< ie
ur cl I, and th tumblers arrai d
rried into the interior of the lock md
into contact with tl am
I) id i :h of the iking t '. \ turn
f tl kn the bolt without the o of
tl nd this pla< th
can in opened, pre?
•h the tumblers a I to their not d
nd all tri of any impr i, either
right or wr< iblit thus t
pickli
A H It fr i its 1 pri not a
.titati. > lock ma
i by tl and tl
•hie to th >f th >f
mak but in li
A ithdr 'rotn I Ie
ii n 1 I, it pr< ibilit ly I
Lil Mi
In-
r - )
O
©
©
Q
r
'
union trick ikin i wax i
•li \
in i made.
b< It can
-• the i i tl
D of the k
6
The key is small ami smooth, folding up like a penknife, it is a plea-
sant and convenient f<»rm for carrying in the vest pocket.
L. Yale, Jr.'s, Patent Door Locks are simple in their construction,
but entirely powder ami pick proof, and admirably adapted for stor
and d llinff-houses.
L, YALE, JR.'S,
Burglar-Proof Chilled Iron Bank Doors, Vaults, Safes,
Of all the different ways of combining wrought and cast iron to r< -t
burglarious attempts, this has been found to be the very best. The
common w of putting p es of hard cast behind those of -oft wrought
iron po.es the latter to be cut by the many "drills" "< ten
r-bores," and "chisels" of the burglar, which, when thu
tr d, poses the hard iron to be easily broken.
But, iu L. Sal Jr.'s, improved method, a lattice Bcreen, or basket
ork, i oft, tough, wrought iron (see rut No. j plai l centrally
in mould, around which the hard iron is poured, completely sur-
rounding ami embedding it, thua protecting it from tb act d of an
tools the burglar can bring to bear against it. I st iron, to b< affl-
uently hard to resist cutting by the burglar, ie too hard to th
sharp blows of the sledge. But in this plan, although it will i k b
the blow, n will still be held in place by the int. D wrought iron
Inch frustrates all attempts at separation. So much that an? fail-
ure in the process of making, results in total loss of th ock empl< I
7
as no amount of skd v g will reduce it small enough to "chaise"
ito the furnace again.
The cut shows the manner of construction, the corner being left un-
filed to show the basket-work of wrought iron. Each safe is cast whole
Ihe door is bolted in the strongest possible manner, and to enable us to
attach the bolts, locks, &c, they are left soft on the inner side, thouo
;fS e ,y hard exteriorly. They are of various sizes— from 500 lbs. *to
I 0,000 lbs., and when secured by the Magic Infallible Lock may be
depended upon as the thing wanted by bankers, brokers, jewellers and
others, who need a completely burglar-proof safe or vault.
It being often desirable to furnish double doors to bank vaults, we
are prepared to furnish extra wide jambs, with our burglar-proof door
within, and the fire door either of the same or of wrought iron, as may
be desired.
Salamandering.
As there are many cases where the burglar-proof safe alone is re-
quired for use in bunk vaults which are fire-proof in themselves, we do
not salamander our safes unless specially requested in order to save for
our friends the cost of fire-proofing, and also the additional space which
a salamandered safe requires. But to meet the requirements of a large
number of our customers, we give particular attention to salamanderino-
8
our Burglar-Proof Safes, in a neat and efficient manner, whenever spe-
cially ordered. We offer them to the public in full confidence that they
are equal to the best security against fire, in the world, entirely reliable
under any and all circumstance- ; and when secured by our locks, they
are a sure protection against fire, violence, or cunninff, the best ever
offered to the public.
CHALLENGE TO THE WORLD. $3000 OFFERED.
Having picked the most celebrated locks in the world, Linus Yale
Jr., no offers his Magic Infallible Bank Lock to the public, as the be.^t
and most reliable lock ever made, and perfect/// unpickable.
< L. Yale, Jr., & Co., therefore offer $3000 reward to any one who can
pick it under the following conditions :
1. The party wishing to make the attempt shall give Mr. Linn* Yale
Jr., due notice in writing, at least one week beforehand, of his inten-
tions.
2. A committee offive respectable disinterested citizens shall be lected
none of whom shall be objected to by either party, and their award shall
1 conclusive The said committee shall proceed to the store of Linn
I ale, Jr., & Co., Philadelphia, and select therefrom anyone of L Yale
Jr. s, Patent Ma c Infallible Bank Locks of Eight Tumbler- ; the 1 k
7 ec he! :i]1 be the one subjected to the trial The party making
the application may t e it apart and have the free use of it for three
di > take any measurements he may desire ifter which Mr Yale
ma hen h e the privilege of examining it to see that do alterations
have been made, and he shall then put it together in the pr< nee of tin
imittee and lock and unlock it, to show that it has no been tam-
a with If it has been altered in its mechanism, the party bo doing
t it the amoum ited to Mr. Yi The committee shall then
f r. ii ' k Vr 6 d0 ,°l 01 ne of L ' Yal< - Jr ' 8 ' ^tent Bnrglar
►of Chilled Iron .safes. When so secured, Mr. rale shall be allowed to
<<P th • on a combination he chooses, and lock tin door, keep-
ing the key concealed, v I, shall then be sealed „,,, and placed in the
ban oftfa committee for sal keeping; aftt which the party apply-
"V? 1 :i allhaye and uninterrupted aec< to the
ock , e space of thin days; during this time Mr. Yale shall take
t! fromth- comn and unlock the door, relockine it , the
rfion, at in als of three days apart, during-
he t e trial. ' K
*'? ] mptingto pick the loci 11 make a del | of
i '" ' thecommitte before commencing his operations
t 1, ball not injur,, th, [, and th afe to whi,h it
the course of hisoperatio, of which ll be re-
comm e,at the end of bis atten | k
» be proved, by neither the safe nor t ;
and I true key locki ,d unlockir
L C the ; on of tin- ti I. Bat if,. th, contrary tUeVS
" 0r the 1 k cannot 1 , 1M d the Vr
*" t! ;JJ! " ' iii]1 W* M L. Yale, Jr., the said urn f
9
$350, : in indemnity for such injury. Tbe remaining sum of $100 shall
be paid Mr. L, Yale, Jr., by the committee, in any event, to reimburse
him for his lost time, the interest of the reward now offered, and to prevent
nv person from using this challenge as an idle means of annoyance.
i. Linus Yale, Jr., shall at the same time deposit in the hands of the
committee the sum of $3000, which shall be refunded him if at the end of
the trial, the bolt be not retracted; but if the party making the attempt
cau fairly unlock the lock during the trial,* he shall do so in the presence
of the committee and Mr. L. Yale, Jr., when the said sum of $3000 shall
be awarded to the successful operator. At the termination of the trial,
the committee shall give a written certificate of the trial and its results.'
5. If a rival locksmith make the attempt, he shall put up his lock for
L. Yale, Jr., to test, under the same conditions as these herein pre-
scribed, with like penalties.
6. Each party, and the committee, shall sign this agreement in writ-
ing, 'before commencing operations, binding themselves respectively to
fulfil these several obligations.
O
CHAPTER II.
DISSERTATION ON LOCKS, LOCK PICKING, AND BURGLAR
PROOF SAFES, &c. ; CRITICALLY NOTICING THE PROMINENT
FASTENINGS OF THE PRESENT DAY.
Dissertation on Locks — Necessity of Gool Locks — Reliance on Watchmen — A
Good Lock and Safe the Cheapest Insurance — Duty of Inventors to Publish
Exploded Ideas — The Lock Controversy up to the time of the great Exhibition
in London — The Controversy continued by Hobbs, &c. — Present State of the
Subject — Varieties of Locks — Warded, Tumbler, Pin, Combination, and Alpha-
bet Locks — All the English Locks, Bramah, Barron, Chubb, &c, all picked —
American Locks equally defective — The best of these, the Day and Newell's
Parautoptic or Great Hobbs Lock having been repeatedly Picked by our Mr.
L. Yale, Jr. — L. Yale, Jr. 's, Infallible Principle' Springl ess Locks — Why Springs
should never be Used— L. Yale, Jr.'s, Magic Infallible Bank, and Infallible Safe
Lories the best in the World — $3,000 Challenge— Patent Office Report. —
Safes. Burglar Proof Question Examined — Wrought Iron Doors can be Cut
Through by Cutter and Counter Bore — Steel Doors and Chilled Iron Plates
easily Fractured — Combination of Chilled and Wrought Iron — L. Yale, Jr.'s,
Chilled Iron cast on Wrought Iron Mesh Work is Burglar Proof — Cross Bars
Necessary — Patent Office Report. Salamanders. L. Yale, Jr.'s, Sal laman-
dered' or not, as required — General Review of Whole Subject — United States
Treasury Department — Commission appointed to Investigate State of Fasten-
ings — Adoption by them of L. Yale, Jr.'s, Locks, Safes, and Vault Doors.
But few inventions in daily and hourly use have such a wide-spread
iterest to the public at large as those on which we would now offer the
following remarks. From the richest to the poorest, all depend upon the
skill of the locksmith to secure to them the fruits of their toil ; and as a
necessary consequence, few inventions have been so severely tried as this
* Without injury to it, so that the key which locked it can again lock and
unlock it.
10
branch of mi hanism. From time to time, as the cupidity of the robber
has caused former inventions to be ranked among exploded ideas of the
pasl so there has been fresh pr< . ress, and fresh skill applied to c inter-
act his efforts ; each effort being anew marked with failure, and a. in
and again new improvements have been pn ntcd to the public, alii.
in tljeir turn to share the fate of their pre The an f Loci
smithing has become almost a science ; and a review of the ingenuity
and labor displayed in endeavoring to fill this great want of the com-
munity, would show to the inquiring mind the most in nious system of
ittack and defence ever witnessed; difficulties and ob , instead of
daunting, have only stimulated new e rt, and as the la1 t result we
are n« aide to say "Eureka : '_we have found it ; and do* r to the
public full security against the ravages of thieves and fire.
But little introduct i, therefore, is needed in offering the following
remarks on the subject of security for objects of ralue, the fruits of
human toil, and their representatives. So Jung as existf i difference
between meum and t m, so long there is a necessity for loci
and secure n mings; and a precursory examii ion of the pn mis-
called securities in use, i iere presented 05 a duty, for the rea that
y er a lock 1 y univei 1 consent been pronounced nni kable,
it is not only the ci odian of valuables, but also of the more in 1 Inable
attributes of the honor, name, fame, integritj those who.
as agents for othe have confid in it. If a pub Bci relying on
e integrity of] loi hich had by 1 ton report, and the dicta f
skilled engineei een pronoun. I nnpickabli aid find bis tn nres
abstracted, and the lock, still seemingh dti. I to ite trust, still lo( I
when he we to it, still 1 i g to his k . wrhich he km 3 hi
,e " P* his charact i ;i ] p „, , u h lik mflfer
I 1 uld be dri th, with those dependent on him. with the
nor on his brow. The/ id and does have a bid
te I ie man, for it is not, as he ct to a moral tempt-
n. I this reason, a good lock is m be relied on I a
p te watchman, alth< \& not u ] to bear banker II,
"j, P Ia fetl _, janee< the latter. ' tut the
? ,dof J " n :1 " sa ' 1" thetemptal n
issogr, awe 11 ti >i\ at the 1 of pli r
hired for a ail stipend, in a position 1 irithout acti
'■^ alit f the long uninterrnp qui
01 cession of night bin, when he is 1 1
as a 1 dian , treasures, a handful of wh ie 1. bim m
be isonlysepan by an iron door f. ified by
5D >' unlock without ofdi \t
" r ! totryit noharn to
t he Jt - a '" 1 B i 1 ud, run
t,1 ( ':; 1 - - ™ thinks of J kwife,1 long
Price of prori th, ,f livin b h
' tnara Ijt > h( sail up , in with a icrh
I t t . X ,
li n
1 b fi^ ,
►Wll be II ret. , it iuh j
d. Habit mal
rncrfil ~ h ~ h day, but he I uks it a
11
error ; it is such a trifle he suspects no one, for he reasons that no one
who could take fifty thousand would be content with five dollars ; besides,
he thinks his lock is secure. At length the man finds he has borrowed
more than he can repay, and stands confessed to himself a " thief."
" He may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb," and laying his plans,
having his own time for their execution, he effects a " heavy bank rob-
bery," and this time alters his wooden key by which he has entered to a
new combination, so that the banker cannot open the lock himself.
During the consequent delay of tearing down the vault the watchman
has escaped to parts unknown; a felon, it is true ; but had not the fatal
facility which has made villains of men in more elevated positions than
that of an humble bank watchman been presented to him, he would
probably have lived and died an honest man.*
On the other hand, a cashier suspecting his lock, and finding his cash
short through error or inadvertence, may be led to do his watchman the
injustice of undeserved suspicion.
We need not speak here of chloroformf and other stupefying influences,
as they are too notorious; nor will public officers, by wilfully closing their
eyes to the danger, obviate that danger by so doing; nor need we insist
on the fact that watchmen have been bribed, and found to be the
accomplices of thieves themselves. The daily journals have recorded too
many such instances, and, judging from the past, will probably have to
do so again, but the majority of cases never reach the public ear.
Therefore, whilst reducing the chances to minimum risk by hiring watch-
men to keep out the majority, a good lock is safety against the minority,
and a good lock and good safe are the cheapest insurance against rogues
and fire, that bankers and merchants can avail themselves of.
Influenced by these considerations, we here propose a brief examina-
tion of the methods adopted, with a view to security in the principal
locks in use : methods which we fully prove on general principles, borne
out by experiment, to be entirely fallacious, promising what tliey cannot
perform, involving the mischievous error of inducing those ignorant of
their defects, to rely on them, to their risk in the hour of trial, when
they are in reality as useless to prevent the depredations of the skilled
burglar, as the elaborately tied knot of former ages, before locks were
in general use : and at the same time to offer one as a substitute for
these, free from their numerous and serious defects, which the public may
safely confide in.
This is also in accordance with the custom of former inventors, w r ho,
* It has come to our knowledge that a very large class of thefts, petty in amount,
are constantly recurring from the facility with which ordinary door-locks are
opened and then relocked as before. We would cite one case in the city of
Albany, where a man who had borne a fair character, had for upwards of two
years been in the habit of regularly visiting a grocery store, and taking enough
to feed his family. By relocking all safe, he avoided suspicion, as the thefts
were too small to be immediately apparent, and were only detected by mere acci-
dent.
f The recent robbery of Messrs. Ball, Black, & Co., in New York, is a case in
point. $50,000 worth of jewellery were stolen from them in one night, the thief
»ening the door to escape by skeleton keys : although five clerks, and the porter
passed the night in the store, none of them suspected anything wrong till morn-
ing, when they awoke suffering from the effect of some anaesthetic agent, which
had evidently been administered to them.
12
in their various publications, or "Lock controversies," have, whilst
presenting their inventions to the public, given the reasons wb, their
own productions were superior in merit, and their rivals deficient in
ecurity. The value and propriety of this is apparent, since these
ii, ms are so numerous, their recognized weakness so well known to
burglars, are fortunately, for the peace of mind of the owners, so little
known to them, the absence of mechanical taste, and the opportunities
of gratify in it it so few, to the mass of mankind, a orbed as they
necessarily are in industrial pursuits, that few I ond the experts know
a thing- about the principles of security involved, and these experts
have to I -mine and report for the benefit of the community at lar
Up to the vear 1851, whilst the varied and cunningly executed tribe
of warded locks had lost their repute, from the facility with which their
internal intricacies were mapped out on a waxed plal (fording a
certain guide to the file or the skeleton 1 f the burglar, there still
remained among those in b repute, Bramah & Barron's improved,
and Chubl detector locks, of world-wide reputation. But at the
Great Exhibition in London these lost their name, iccumbing to
the acki edged skill and dexteritj Mr. Hobbs, who picl I not
only the but also 1 other locks "subjected to his criticism. Since
that time, the 1 autoptic lock of Messrs. Day & N which he then
presented to tl iropean public, has enjoyed a world- fame. The
Messrs. Chubb and others hi introduced impro\ in their locks
to lard inst Mr. Hobbs 1 peculiar thod, and other skilful
meci - have resented their labors to the public, a rf them
ingenuity, although, unfortuni nbod; l tl a
il errors.
ngs the lock controversy to the present date ; bu< b g
I ther, it may be well to bring the general principles of loci
I war k— a i
■
ID
Without going bi i to remo iquil may comment with th<
wli^n a It, shot by a k- sted mor
r lese massif wi the nmonly r ?ived fastening, hut in cou >f
13
Single gated tumbler lock,
•which if the tumbler not
lifted high enough will hold
the boll ' i hi* tumbler
caimot be lifted tou high.
time it was found that a bent wire, or crooked stick, applied with
moderate skill, could easily uulock the bolt.
Ingenuity then contrived wards, increasing in elaborate intricacy with
each succeeding age, the key being cut away in the web to correspond
to these wards and thread their labyrinths. Still in advance of the
locksmith, the ingenious marauder found that the former had wrought
laboriously, only to give him a clue to his so carefully guarded secret ;
a blank key coated with wax, when pressed against these wards, instantly
gave a map of the interior, by which a skeleton key might be fashioned
in a few minutes, so as to avoid all obstacles, press back and unlock the
bolt. The problem of a secure lock was still unsolved.
Tumblers were next added, pressed by springs into notches on the
bolt, so as to hold it firmly unless first lifted out. These were afterwards
improved by making the double gated tumbler,
by which, if the picklock lifted the tumbler
either too much or not high enough, the bolt
was held equally secure. A number of these
tumblers, each lifted to different heights by
different steps in the key, were supposed to
give perfect security by the number of changes
and chances being so great, that it would be
impossible to lift tliem all exactly to the re-
quired and different heights. Of this kind the
most celebrated was the Chubb lock. Substi-
tuting slides for tumblers, the same will apply
to the Bramah lock.
A combination of tumblers and wards was also used, but the latter,
for the reasons above given, were abandoned as a useless addition.
To add to these complications for safety, the Permutation lock was
devised, the key and lock being changed together at the owner's will, so
as to make a new combination, and, in effect, a new lock whenever
desired. As this involved much trouble in opening the lock and reset-
ting it to work in unison with the changed key, and otherwise entailing
a loss of time and the necessity of some aptness in mechanical skill,
which merchants and professional men do not care to be troubled with,
this made a new requirement, happily met by Messrs. Newell, Pye,
Jones, Andrews, L Yale, Jr., and others, who made the key itself ar-
range' the interior of the lock to correspond with each new change of
the\ey used in locking it; requiring only the key to be altered to make
each new permutation.
Bat the permutation key, whilst it secured the owner by its changing
form against the well-known device of furtively obtaining an impression
of the 'true key by pressing it for a moment against a prepared waxed
plate or cloth, from which impression a false key could be made, and by
its power of change destroying the chances of ringing the few changes
of which a fixed key is susceptible; yet, whilst this was an advance on
the road to safety, it did not remedy the insecurity of the tumbler prin-
ciple, whether double gated or otherwise, for, by applying a pressure to
the bolt to bring the tumblers in contact with the stump or fence which
prevented the bolt from sliding back, on introducing a tool to lift each
tumbler in detail slowly against the stump, the sense of feeling easily
indicated to the expert lock-picker, when the gating or notch in the
14
tumbler was opposite the stump, and when each successive tumbler was
thus felt out, the bolt yielded to the pressure — the lock was opened.
Chubb' s Lock, a good . mple of a do lock II anil
< otliffa iiigh enouj. \rill prt it th< bol
By this mechanical or tento e process, Mr
A
B
_
O
id
ndond vrof too] Hr.l or
I ;
A
■ It, r
make a j
of as u-
r-
1
Hobbs, in London, op
aBramahloel hteen
slide? . and a Chubb lock
of six tumblers in a short
e tee of time, demonstrat-
ing his maxim: "That
any lock which leai its
tumblers or stops ex-
posed to Bight or feelii
while they touch tin- fen<
or stumps, may be i ily
picked."
h\ the Day A: Newell
Parautoptic or Hobb
lock, tli lethod of pick-
ing was pn itted by
111 ' detached principle,
which, on the application
of pi sure for tie' above
purpo broke all con-
nectioD betn n the dif-
ferent sets of tomb!
thus rendering j 'in
impo Ible.
Further addition- in
the way of rings, curtains,
L
15
and eccentric slides, to close the key-hole after the true or false key or
picking tool has been inserted, and commenced to turn, have also been
used to prevent smoking the tumblers and getting an inspection of the
tracks left by the use of the key, from which inspection a false key
could be made — but how fruitlessly we shall see in its proper place.
Little mention need be made of the various secret locks, whose key-
hole was hidden till a concealed spring had been pressed,* nor of the
alarm locks which fired pistols, shot darts to harpoon the marauder, rang
an alarum, &c, such being more justly ranked among pleasing toys of
little practical value.
Ring Locks, Combination Letter Safety, or Puzzle Locks, which re-
quire no key to open them, but depend upon an exercise of memory to
adjust their combinations, have long been known. Their motto, sort ant
labore (by chance or labor), was supposed to indicate their value, imply-
ing that the chance of accidentally making the arrangement by which
they had been locked, or by laboriously ringing all their changes, which
in some cases run to millions in number, were the only methods of open-
ing them without a knowledge of the right combination; but this is an
error, as modern skill has furnished a certainty in operating to open
them, which makes them useless, whilst they are still open to the
liability of being opened by chance in the hands of the most unskilled.
At the same time, they are all open to other charges and defects ; a
treacherous memory, sudden attack of sickness, inattention or mistak*
at the time of setting the combination, may make this class of locks a
safe against the owner as the marauder. One of the best of this class
has the serious objection of being a tell-tale, informing all within hearing
of the exact combination on which it was locked or unlocked, by making
a loud tick at each change of its arrangement, requiring only to be
counted and remembered, when any one with a pair of pincers can un-
lock it, having the mental key given" him by the lock itself. Some of
this class are easily opened by an ingenious instrument, which is attached
to the lock ; on turning a handle, all the changes are speedily rung out
with mechanical, and, consequently, mathematical accuracy and precision,
and, on arriving at the right one, the bolt is instantly shot back.
The publicity given at the London Exhibition, by Mr. Hobbs, to the
tentative or mechanical manner of picking, by which the educated sense
of touch felt into the secrets of the best English locks, despite false
notches and complications, vainly introduced, as though not only the
finders but the very tools themselves had eyes in them, had the effect of
buildin'"- up the reputation of American locks and locksmiths, who then
stood Confessedly in advance of all others. The best English maker
acknowledged the inefficiency of their inventions, by introducing im-
provements to guard against the ingenuity of American mechanics, and
the people eagerly adopted the American lock.
Continental Europe added her gold medals and honorary certificate
that the Parautoptic Lock was not only the best lock in the world, but
* « Secret key-holes are generally objectionable, on tbe ground that great reliance
is frequently placed upon them, whilst all the while perhaps .their existence is
known and understood, although the party interested may not be aware of it. -
GilbarVs Prize Essay.
16
also entirely reliable. But whilst the most eminent mechanicians were
*
thu> londlj proclaiming their confidence in tiiie ingenious! larded lock,
Mr. L. Yale, Jr., saw a (Meet which In thought a vital error. II'' in-
stituted ;i series of rimenta, which have resulted unvaryingly, and,
a i sequence, the best ma lu top tic Lock which can be placed ou
a bank door is entirely us< 3 before his new method of pickiti and
urtb his : ihod is so exceedingly simple that any smart lad of BIX-
t ft can in i short time makt a \ len key. the cxaci transcript ■ tl
uL ti will open the i, and i m| them either on tin
or any other combini d he ma) cho e, in an incredibly ihort spac< of
ae. Particular > put on the po bility of relocking the door
n a i combin >n unknown to the owner of the lock, a- inch n
c the o is po rli unlock it, in w Inch i the vault or
broken open t- i at tl mtenl ople tine- for thi
'hi allowing i I I on the facility w ith w hicfa
bis h 1 all those >en d bi a wii 1 kev likewi - can b>
pu
t
J ^ Oct.
T • - Mr. L. Yale, Jr., kx kmal i at a
w '• II j
at I )j . , . . pi,
r J I 1 I IllN
,: 'i
lap' II ' una J '
| \\ ll'l)
I
I
|
ii BL w D\\ i
/
.j
i p
i f,
,t
i //■
sq., - J
Ah I i.
, '
111
' , i r
/
1
HAM
3 J
17
Answer to the above*
New York, Jan. 12, 1856.
Mr, Samuel Perry —
Dear Sir: Your note of yesterday is received, and I hasten to reply. If de-
termination to avail myself of the best security modern locks can afford 1
to that, I ought to be "well posted," as you remark ; for I hav< iken pa
secure every improvement demonstrated, or pifrved ne< sary, as they have ' n
made for many years. I was called upon, a few weeks since J. y Mr. L. Fale, Jr.,tb
inventor of the "Magic Infallible," a springless permutation lock, and the first
examination convinced me that it was the finest thing in the way of a protection
against burglars I had ever seen. Though I assured him I felt confident I had
already an unpickable lock upon my safe, viz: the "Parautoptic" or "Newell
Lock," sometimes called the "Hobbs Lock," the best of five upon the same safe,
i one which I paid three hundred dollars for, it being the finest ten tumbler
lock of that kind, judge of my surprise when Mr. Yale ass d me, and by a slight
diagram with a pencil convinced me, that it could be picked! This was not all ;
he pr< it by cutting a wooden key, solely from an inspection of the lock
through the key -hole, which turned the bolt back as readily as my key won!
have done! ! And then, to complete my discomfiture, he cut away one bit of h
key, and locked it so that /could never have unlocked it with my key ; and yet
the lock was not injured in the least, showing no signs of having been tampered
with; proving in every respect how unsafe it was. I am convinced this knon
ledge of the true principles of locks has enabled him, in his lock, to ovei
not only this, but every other known method of pi Lng; and, in t, I con-
sider it in other and all respects superior to any other lock in n ket.
I would also volunteer a word or two on the subject of burglar-proof saf
Mr. Yale is also the inventor of the best combination of wroug] tnd chil t-
iron that I have ever seen, for doors to banks, and for safes, boxes, vaults, &c.
I am happy to see that these very much ne* -d improvements are meet \ with
the sue they deserve.
Ho|>ing the above may be of service to you,
I am, very respectfully, yours,
SAMUEL HAMMOND.
New Yo Feb. 12, 1856.
The undersigned hereby testifies that lie saw Mr. Yale unlock one of ] &
Newell's best ten tumbler parautoptic locks, with a key made by himse in a
short space of time, from measurement of the lock while it was a
the door of a safe, in such a position that he could ha 10 access to it exc<
by the key-hole.
J. JAMES HYDE,
of the firm of John E. Ilt/dc's Suns, 22 Maiden Lam .
We have thus seen that a new school of picking has been inaugurated,
and, in addition to Mr. Hobbs's maxim, "that any lock which leav
\ tumblers or stops exposed to sight or feeling through the key-hol win!
they can be made to touch the fence or stump, is liable to be easily
picked, 7 ' L. Yale, Jr., adds the following proposition, as demonstrated :
"That any lock now in use, which is operated by a winged key, is equally
unsafe." These principles being established, they condemn all the lock
operated by fixed keys in the country.
It v not at first intended to give the modus operandi of the new
methods of lock picking, lest a knowledge of the fatal facility with
which a lock can be picked by any one of average ability, might tempt
to depredation — but the constantly recurring remarks made to us that
we are the only ones who know these processes, have decided us to
. publish our methods in self-defence; for we do not doubt that now the
2
f
18
possibility of so doing is demon ted, the method will <n be redi
er by those who wish to do - > for o< rious purposi : whilst those
in • inter- 1 in knowing whether thai in which they place their reli-
ance is re, are still ignorant of the fact We therefore intend at
an to i te our second edition, with minute d< Tiption, with
ill iisti of our method- of jijckii Want of time and the pi
of business prevent us from aoing so at this lin bul we ma in
geie 1 term r a fixed k< on
In which the handle and key-bits are united) can
be introduced into a lock, tin al m a I 1 b
inserted, with j iic sol ices, ink, or chemical
3, 1 h a map of the traci r the key i
the i . s of the tumblers can be taken with tfa
11 ; fr< tn this map a wo< n
be easily mad >f exact resemblance and equal
ith the true key in il nds of th
owner.* \ n-t tl method of pickin lid*
am and ecc< are useless — and mor<
than i i;, e ill- i mfi effect
ivii a f imaginary security which ma
I'M i their plan up] r:n
to their ci
" W\n ih 11 ■ find the una>
liling i n i of thi English
P it <> R in noticing a n< paten
W i i difficult
1 5 Jr ,. . . splain
atte:
11 ] ~ | i- and
s of patiei b< ba I them all
'is 1 ith i no cone I modi
illing be i bt, 1
I 1 d< to 1 i i>\
'I rj. g. Treasury D< I
II as ir tj
1 i the b In
' I s an d h< s trr a n
t) ,,
the world.
a i
•• ch i rust pi ilarl
& ill,
s
pei
i-
lo
1
ai
f
1
tumlj
It
ss » , 1 1
J tie
m
* \
1
:
a ma
19
lock then cannot be opened, and the safe or vault must be broken into
before its contents are accessible.
L. Yale, Jr.'s, Magic Infallible Bank Lock is made of the following
sizes: No. 1, eight tumblers
with rolling bolts; No. 2,
six tumblers; No. 3, five
tumblers with square bolts.
This is a Permutation
Bank Lock, susceptible of a
greater number of changes
than any other bank lock
of the same size ever made.
It is powder proof. No
powder can be introduced
into the lock itself to blow it
off, and the key-hole, when
charged with powder, can no
more be injured than a pistol
barrel of the same size.
Absolute security against
picking is obtained, by cut-
off all access to the
tumblers when they are
brought in contact with the fence or stump, by means of a closely fit-
ting tempered steel plate, which closes the key-hole before the tumblers
themselves can be moved. Therefore, no picking tool, however fine,
can be introduced into the lock when the tumblers are in a position to
be operated on. Hence, feeling or seeing the tumblers is alike im-
possible.
ting
(pb==i«3i*
As the key-bits fill the key-hole of themselves, there is no room to
introduce any plastic substance to take an imprint of the tumblers.
Wh< the key is withdrawn, all record of its action is obliterated, and
no tell-tale left.
Should a key be lost or stolen, the duplicate key can be set up and
20
the door opened; on changing the duplicate key and relocking the door,
the lost key can no longer open it; and the number of chau. 3 possible
to be effected at the will of the owner, as given further on, i o great,
that a lifetime constantly employed would not be long enough to rin
the whole number. Only one turn of the key is required, and in the
ordinary manner, no complication of movements, trick or secret non-
sense being required.
It is simple and strong; all useless complications being discarded,
this lock is but little liable to wear. It \< ei Iy cleaned from any ru
hich may gather on it when used in a damp situation, by any intelli-
gent country mechanic, who will have no difficulty in cleaning and put-
ting it together again.
The following particular description of this lock will assist in under-
standing the wood-cuts.
TLq.1
T.
^
I I i of the loo intheunloc ition. J 2i c-
til ! tl I ill- ie 1 J, ! ■ ill lb )),!
in ' ma] ] ■!). 1 OH i •, jii
the I r key-hol< cku the hard pis u
Lrried into tl and th< key-ti r< d b them; tl
Cl dti hown in cunta- wiih tie Iriving \\he< 4,
. 21
5 and 6 are plans of the tumbler carriage d f with the hard plate m, and
crosshead % removed to show the tumblers. In Fig. 4 the key tumblers
r, and fence tumblers s, are shown in the unlocked or normal position,
held immovably in their place by the pin a' , which is attached to the hard
plate m. The key-bits x are shown as just inserted, ready to be im-
pressed against the tumblers. Fig. 5, the key-bit in place, with the ke}
tumbler r pressed iuto it, the fence-tumbler s as arranged by the key-
tumbler now moved away from it, and held immovably by the knife-edge
t, which has now entered that one of its notches which corresponds with
the length of the key-bit used. This plan shows the arrangement of the
tumblers when the inner key-hole is closed, corresponding to Fig. 3. In
Fig. 6 the true-tumblers, locked by the knife-edge, in the position given
it by the key-tumbler r in locking ; the latter as carried to its normal
position, where it must always remain immovable when the external key-
hole is open — the key is now' withdrawn.
r
J
r
FU 2
•
/.
Y//V//////A
/A
M
a
b
*T~
/■ r
1
UJ
I
*
a«
7f
<
m
ft
m
F
J
i
V
FLf. 4
<**<** 9^«« S -
-
i
Fie,. 6
I
U t
E i
i_*
e
8
ft
6
6
T
.
\
\A
(
FLa. 5
B
8
i
ft
]
Fig. 1 is the key ; z, the square pin or handle which turns the driving
wheel ; y, the key-pod attached to the handle by a dovetail and sprii
dowel. Fig. 8 is a section of key, showing spiral spring in handle, and
spring dowel to keep the pod from slipping off. Figs. 9 and 10 show
the dovetailing of the end of the handle, and the key where tbey unite.
Fig. 11 is a key-bit with centre hole to pass over the centre pin, also
hole for the screw to hold it with the others on the key-pod.
22
y 12 is a perspective new of tl y with the pod of bi hown
1. rea to l I into tl
— On in II ) |" '.lie
ml d< 1 ! :< ' Wit l tl I 111 111'
ham tli an
I
r v vliicli in tl in
t it t the 1 i • 'ii ;
i tl
f ] tli 1 1.
T ti
I V iti,
Tl II
t lie |
I
llilii • J t ] II
i
i
■
i
I
<3 a
\ m ■ . **. — ,
23
To Unlock. — On inserting the key as before, and turning in the re-
verse direction, the key-bits are separated from the handle, and carried
away into the lock, and the key-hole closed. As before, the key-tumblers
are arranged by being pressed against the key-bits ; the crosshead is
again brought to the cam on the driving-wheel, which now moves it
downward, carrying the fence-tumblers into the key-tumblers, if the key
be the same as the one used in locking out, and also removing the dog
h from behind the bolt carriage ; the remaining motion of the key-
handle retracts the bolts, restores both sets of tumblers to their normal
position, ready to receive the same or any new arrangement of the key,
opens the key-hole, and attaches the pod to the handle, ready for with-
drawal.
But if, while in the locked position, a changed or false key be ap-
plied, the key-tumblers will be wrongly arranged, and not in a position
to receive the fence-tumblers which retain the impression of the key
used in locking, consequently the fence-slide will be obstructed in its
movements, preventing the crosshead from carrying down the bolt-dog
to relieve the bolts, which continue to project till all the preceding
movements regularly occur, which the key used in locking is alone com-
petent to effect.
The bolt-carriage b carries the round tempered-steel bolts c c in such
a manner that they would roll under the action of a saw ; this prevents
their being cut off.
The dog /* takes all the pressure applied to the bolts to force them
back, relieving the tumblers from th possibility of being crushed.
As will be seen at a glance, no powder can be introduced into the
basin of the lock ; the key-hole alone can be charged, injuring it no more
than a pistol barrel of the same size.
As the crosshead i must be brought to the cam of the driving-wheel
before it can move the dog h to r use the bolt <ml as the interior
key-hole invariably closes in doingso, all ace 3 to the tumblers by 1 n
the finest cambric needle is cut off when the tumblers are libt 1 for
action ; and whenever the interior key-hole is open, thi are held per-
fectly immovable. All attempts by a picking tool are impossible, and
the hard plate secures them from drilling. The tumblers made of steel
are guarded from the possibility of sticking together by rust in a damp
situation by a brass furring between each pair.
The tumblers are inclosed between walls of bronze, and the tumbler
carriage, pinions, &c, are made of the same material.
The key, Fig. 7, made of a convenient form for carrying in the
pocket, is constructed in two principal parts. 1st. The st , which
serves as a handle to give motion by the square pin 2 to the works of
the lock. 2d. The pod of bite, or key proper, //, which is attached to the
handle by a dovetail and spring dowel, as shown in Fi 8, 0, 10, and 12.
The arrangement of the key bits is novel. Instead of sweeping
against the edges of the tumblers, as is usual, wearing out both the k
and the tumbler in course of time, for which wearing away an allowance
lias to be made, causing a loss in the nicety of fit in the tumblers, in this
lock the key does not sweep at all ; but, the tumblers being pr -ed
aj: the 6t s of the key, no wear takes place, permitting a cl<
>f fit in this lock which insures greater security, not attainable in those
in which a circular or sweeping motion is used.
24
T te of wii i we 1 of tempi
I, al tl of ;i 'liit h one, resp qqdi lips
"• centre pii o boldt lem all nrelj in
in the ue J eh I \b so mad< to be in fi tu
111 , one sid
al b 1 taken off and reversed, it m,
n< By thie h 1, bae a rastl
r o than the ordii of permu ion )
si: d numlnrs to i The ad-
ill l>c e q in th olJov.ii ble i i" i mil
■
mut j
12
!
H
] IK
I
' I 1
1
L YALE JR.'S, INFALLIBLE SAFE LOCK
r
I
-
o
c
s
©
e
r
4
i
1 1 1
11 sal Like ill A I
unpi pr< id sprin am
and f< i
It i in thi raai
L Sl I II (he fi.
the 1
I
lv an it
in I i
th
th t
i
I
I
b
I
i
■
■
tl
1 - 1 fi 1 i v < ' \
-
I
.
,
i
-
ill
25
directly to springs, mainly by reason of rust or dirt clogging the tum-
blers, till there is not sufficient power in the springs to move them.
Therefore, the " Infallible Safe Lock" is Picklock, Powder, Fire and
7' r-proof.
The key is small, smooth, and closes up, like the blade of a penknif
being the most convenient and pleasant key to carry that can be found
in the market.
Although not a permutation lock, yet the chances of ringing all the
changes of the lock are not one in 10,000,000, which is altogether be-
yond the limits of probability which encourages the attempt.
This lock presents this strikingly obvious advantage : The key must
be withdrawn before the bolt can move, so that it cannot be left in the
lock even by accident, or through carelessness, ready for some rogue to
take the print of it in wax.
L. YALE, JR'S, PATENT BURGLAR PROOF CHILLED
IRON BANK DOORS, VAULTS, SAFES, &c.
Equally important with a good lock
partially believed in, or else not fully
stance, puts a costly lock on a wooden
door, it being evident that it is easier to
cut through the door than to pick the
lock ; ami yet we see unnumbered in-
stances where the public rely on a door
of no more value, to resist a burglar
who has determined to use his knowledge
and skill to enter it, than the wooden
door above cited.
The only difference w T e can see be-
tween a woo<l< n door, the same door
lined with sheet iron, and the various
wrought iron, ordinary chilled iron, steel,
and other doors now in use, except the
appeart ce of security, is merely a ques-
tion of time in getting through them.
In many cases where the temptation is
known to be at trifling, the appearance
of strength may deter the petty marau-
der from assaults on the safe; but if a
regular graduate of the burglar school
has resolved on entering, the present
system of defence offers but little impe-
diment to his action.
The merchant often feels indifferent
about his safe, so long as he thinks it
fire proof, because his money is on de-
posit at the bank, except what he may
receive after bank hours, often enough
of itself by the w , to pay for a dozen
good safes, and his bills receivable are
is a secure safe, a truth only
understood. No one, for in-
*-
v
w
<J
G
Q
1
*N
u
n*f w*>
V
;--
c
c
Chilled [ron Hank Boor with corner left
unfilled to show the rk.
iu the security of his banker's
r
i*
1
26
vault. ] f he i thief proof afe in bis owi be ba 10
t h i r< i|it-: ami be £aot0< liis bille i.e. able
liil^t he a whether hia banker's vault bi
or ag taken for I ; and should the bank i
n - ii ie nol ibli ipera. If lie hi thi(
hie books and papers an tn
mutili n disappi I vi bo ten tab
tli ■ fi . finding thi labor and
profil
In li mi- ofl ;l\ [ntei d
tli i tl). o« I
The . r;il nit i ii ;i tin
11 padlocl , bank fraugh ith
1 i I — i oi it-
I i" in in iIm- i ba
bank < • hi the - ai
ii 1 .lii<h tly miit muall
111*
• the in tip
ii Id | i.lv be di
the inn \ purch b I tin i
mid i
Q< the | n tl hi
mil iracoei
■
r t<> mi
h 1
ii
:i i
I
i i ' I
kaV
j ' II
I J J • • .
I
'
1 i
\ \
■
J
J
i
27
attempt of this kind is that in which the invention consists in setting up
a number of parallel rods of wrought iron as a framework of skeleton of
the size of the door or safe; the chilled iron is then cast around this
frame. By another plan of the same maker the chilled iron is cast on
boiler plate thickly studded with rivets, made of the size of the in-
tended door or safe, the cast iron flowing around the rivet heads is thus
held in its place.
Both of these plans we consider defective. Iu the first, it is evident
that each rod, running lengthwise through the thickness of the door or
wall of the safe, must be considered as a foreign body ; having no co-
hesion or affinity with the cast iron, it adds nothing to its strength, but,
on the contrary, it is a weakness ; for the hole made by each rod in
which it lies, is so much of the thickness of the door abstracted from its
structure ; therefore, the thicker the rod, the thinner and i iker the
door must be, and when it breaks, it must be in the weakest place, i. e. }
longitudinally over the lines of the rods, for there the metal is the thin-
nest. It follows. as a sequence that the door or safe would be stronger
without any parallel rods, than it is with them. In the second plan, the
metal, on cooling, contracts around the rivet heads, causing a disorgan-
ization of the crystalline structure of the metal ; this contraction fills the
metal with minute flaws, which are undistinguishable when painted up,
but under the test of force the metal crumbles into fragments and after
being heated in a fire, the same effect will be evident on cooling.
v
Chilled Iron Safo with corner loft unfilled to show the network.
Avoiding these defects, L. Yale, Jr. % Safes, Doors, &c, are constructed
by making a basket or network of wrought iron oval rods, the meshes of
28
hich are 1 | incli apart, as the skeleton frame of the intended struc-
ture ; around and through this network the cast iron is poured, of which
the walls of the safe, or door, are made. The outer hard surface l.eii
proof against drills, &c, protects the wrought iron frame, whilst tl
latter binds the whole structure to ther, even should it be cracked by
vigorous sledging. The horizontal bars supportthose placed vertically,
and these in their turn bind those together, ch running the whole
length and breadth of the safe, there being 8 each way, or 10 in all, i
each square foot. When assailed by a chill iron may be
acked along the line of some one or other of the ls before men-
oned, as the whole door is rigid and unyielding, but each su
increases the difficulty of cracking it, 'In-door 1 ne-
hat pliable by constant lettering. Long before the p s can b
'
ro
<1 M
I
>1* a B the f a in l y the difficulty of further fracture
able, an a if ii w< re possible i<
iron in nen the i (\\
Ij pi< I bi firmly b pla
30
the door is securely <h d behind, they are only used for their proper
purpose, and no reliance ifi placed od them for security ; a thief, there-
who should cut them off with the hope of thereby effecting: an
entrance, would find his labor in vain.
We close by the following description of the process of manufacture
of th' se safes doors, &c, from the Patent Office Report for 1 2-5!
pajre 386, by ] :iiiii«.-r li. I >. Ren wick.
" Pig iron is around a wrought iron gauze or network. Tin' network
made of the size of the inten< door, with meshes about 1£ inch square, and
con d of bars of small round or oval iron. All attack by drilling is pre-
vented b e chilled cast iron, and when the door is bj heavy
sledge, the iron breal in small pieces, each the size of — h, the fn
•ing along line of i h Fi nenl bein held in
The doors, by r I bl become pi id is bn d
in here and there, but the st man has not yet bei al ny
lute break therein."
Salamandering.
These safes are often used without being salamand< d, as for in-
sta e, in fire-proof vault: where idering is unnecessary, and
both the room and expense i Baved.
Owing to their t 1 kness, one and a (pi, p inch, and co [uent
great weight, in all ordinary cases, the uld break through tl
of a burn r buildii nd fall into the cellar beneath Ion] they
would Income hot c . h to inju ir co mts.
Bu fire-proi ideratuni v, h many, we art . epared
» e inlander our burglar-pn I s, an<l i them |»« fir
pr< , u irpassed in si ty from ih<' ravages of li by an; alai ler
safe wh;
Closing Remarks.
II the foregoing paj Lonrr< dor throngl ew<
tl principal pi I I it curity a and cunning it
mains f a up the coi iision ; tich we have brought
B.
C
L Lll lo rated b ed or ey now in n are i
thi I J' to t 1 chea tranl ocli inclusive
nd i i of wai or 1 tblei curtail di i *li«lin
h lo( ks i il Bi
\ II ) i whirl ii be felt when in fontacl h
tin ap, op )i:il or m I ki
ti
il 1 'i -< <*i r tr b< r in i 1m- i of iIm* key,
no
or i lie roanrn r of tl . I Im
1 ( - if i n evervl ilmt
I e ! h li f i d t<> inl tli wli
hi: icr.
'I lli l!i
I or etter U n<<] I mental 1th h
6' JOUS tO tl- B 1
31
gotten ; their changes may be immense in number, valuable only against
ignorant persons who might attempt to ring the changes in detail, but
for the very reason that such an attempt is hopeless, the problem has
been solved in a different and more direct mauner with ease and cer-
tainty.
5. L. Yale, Jr.'s, locks are free from all these defects, and are the best
ever offered the public.
6. Likewise with regard to thief-proof safes, we have seen that either
chilled iron, wrought iron, or steel doors alone are useless for safetv, as
also the combinations of chilled and wrought iron before mentioned for
this purpose.
7. L. Yale, Jr.'s, burglar- proof work, on the contrary, is entirely relia-
i ble under any and every condition of trial. At the same time being the
cheapest to manufacture, it is sold at correspondingly low prices.*
In conclusion, we cannot do better than to make the following extract
from " Gilbart's prize essay on Banks, 1 ' which in its conclusions accords
with the views we have herein laid down. After speaking of Tamm's
"guarded tumbler," and Huffer's "revolving wheel," introduced by
these English makers into their locks as their plan for Gilbart
says: " It is quite possible that an expert locksmith might find such
obstructions very insignificant, but for general purposes it is deemed
that any of the locks (English) pointed out would afford security eeing
that persons of skill and art seldom find it necessary to obtain a liveli-
hood by fraud. "f
"At the same time the temptations to rob a bank are so strong that no
I pains or precautions can be deemed superfluous for its safe protection.
Few things are more mischievous than the placing confidence in that
security which is fancied only; and the benefits of locks are by no mean
an exception to the rule that when any great advantage is to be reaped
a corresponding amount of labor must be bestowed.''
* As we were going to press, we received the following testimonial of the tri-
umphant test of our work : —
Bri< 3 Bank, Clyde, April 30, 1856.
Linus YALE, Jr.,
Dear Sir: * *' * * About two months since, during a dark and stormy
night, our bank was entered by burglars, through an adjoining cell n»l
1 vault, which was of brick, was pierced, which left us without any other pro-
tection than one of your highly approved chilled iron Bo r-Proof S ith
' your Magic Bank Lock attached hese we deem sufficient >r they su< ally
y resisted all the various devices and expedients known and pract d by burglars.
We have t most implicit confidence in theii trength and - id I
sured that when once locked, we are more secure than w should be with any
other safe and lock ever yet invented.
Yours, respectfully
(Signed) WM. II. COFFIN, (
t This is a mistake — the burglar school graduates are •ralh q , kill
and art. but their habits and inclinations unhappily make it n v for them
to i fraud ofto n for the excite*] tt, uh»*n the same skilland ei ytheyshow
in the walks of vice, would insure them steady and remunerative employment
in honest pin ts. But be this as it may, L. Jr.'s, system of taking the mea-
surement of the lock, and cutting a sufficient wooden key th from, i ces it no
longer necessary to be a skilled mechanic in order to open the 1 in use.
32
"Bank locks are not made to be picked and should all be of such a
cl acter that no ordinary smith can accomplish it. It is also Hear that
if a key be lost when it is impossible to know into whos hands it may
h; e fallen, the security of t) lock is gone, and it should be imn i-
ately replaced by a different one. This is, however, a very serious in-
mvenience, attended with considerable expen and should never I
orted to unnecessarily/*'
Extract from Banker's M e 3 London, 1S4".
"In a country where a large class subsist by r< 1 where the m of
effe mrelj a the con nt study of skilful and in . the
oi iffling them and prol the ordinar; itories of valuabl
>m thi felonious attacks are to call iii ieaid of the gr chan skfll
Lth locks and f; lings, x Qd
The bank r leries during lati that tl have been ] b
e: s: and have been < skill which
re not uiul < by ordi The
m w! tli* -break e confident of ol iningini ful
hank, induces tL with a skill i pro-
pi I bo I for this re;
rob a bank is heard f. When l<
n is, in the J gh.1 I the bui
of i I has L t hat m en
aths h I in tl r.
u At made to
if with I it
■ nuinei
the i ietl Lroj
o long t« it i rop
aai fe or !l
ties ; it i
q the J _ bui
nin -t\\ all hich tip
s that dd lock and relock
Adoption of L. Yale, Jr.'s, Locks and Chilled Ircn Burglar
Proof Work, by the U. S. Treasury Department.
I le numeroc ith the I "nil c-«l Stal •
1 1 it fl 1 tll<' ll-llOll s, ■ ib-ti
ill in re con truu
d I in ijjuin • ' I
u nted )- ill
su] ii of all 1 L' I tin- I h
bi s — ii resi iii [oi I c
1 1 A n'lii tl ;«
lie I ii in u
tli' t ii of L. Y Jr Ban
a ! I' I Vault D II th
! I in lL I
* T tl,
33
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Mint of the United States,
Philadelphia, May 7, 1856.
The Chilled Iron Vault Doors, and Magic Infallible Bank Locks, manufactured
by Messrs. Linus Yale, Jr. & Co., have been used at the Mint for some months
past. They are of great strength and durability, and admirably adapted for
vaults containing treasure or other valuables. They are, in all respects, superior
to any articles of t kind which have come under my observation.
JAMES ROSS SNQWDEN,
Director C. S* Mint.
Office of George P. Bissell & Co., Bankers,
Linus Yale, Jr. Hartford, Conk., Jan. 22, 1856.
Dear Sir : The Burglar-proof Safe and Magic Lock we purchased of Mr. Reming-
ton, about a year ago, have given us the most entire satisfaction. We are satis-
fied that the safe is as absolutely secure as anything can be. And the lock we
consider the most complete and perfect lock which we have ever seen. It works
beautifully ; never gets out of order ; and it combines, we think, all that is dc
sirable in an /irticle of the kind. We believe we have examined all, and used
many of the different locks offered to the public, but we give your lock the prefer-
ence decidedly. And it would be a large sum that would tempt us to have it
removed from our door, and another one by any other maker substituted.
Resp' ctfully yours,
>. P, Bl SLL & CO.
Exchange Bank,
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Hartford, Jan. 24, 1856.
Dear Sir : We have now had j'our Magic Lock and Burglar-proof Safe nearlv
two years, and are very much pleased with both. The lock has always worl
perfectly well, and we think the safe is true to its name, a perfct safe from all
intruders, and we have never been so well pleased with any other lurk we have
ever had as we have been with yours. Very res] • full v yours,
H. L. BID WELL, Cashier.
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Clyde, I 1856.
Dear Sir: The " Yale's Patent 1 ' Burglar-proof Safe we purchased of you me
time since, meets our entire approbation. We esteem it the only reliable article
of the kind now in use, and we would cheerfully recommend to those who are in
want of safeguards that will baffle the skill of the burglar, to treat with you
for one of a similar kind.
Too much cannot be said in favor of your gic Lock. We consider it not
only safe against intruders, but certain at all times to operate with ease and
accuracy when the proper key is applied.
In short, the safe and lock taken together are indispensable to the safety o(
Bankers, and cannot, in our judgment, be surpassed.
WM. H. COFFIN,
Cashier Briggs Bank, Clyde.
3
.
r
m m
I*
i a* ••. i —
K li V
■
i
1211
■
• .
i i
I
KV
I
4
I
;.
|il r I
V I A
35
Weeds port Bank,
Weedsport, N. Y., Jan. 22, lS.^ti.
Allow me here to sta- that I am well pleased with the Vault Safe and Magic
Lock had of you for the use of this bank, and believe they fully answer the re-
commendation given them by you.
R. S. MAl K, Cashier.
Bank of I'tk a. Jan. 2'A, 1856.
We have for a year past used Yale's Magic Lock and Burglar-proof Dooray.and
have at this time no reason for abatement of the confidence that induced their
selection.
P. V. ROGER.-. shier.
Ilion Bank,
Ilio>\ N. Y., Jan. 24, IS .
This bank lias in use a Magic Lock and Burglar-proof Door furnished try
Remington & Co-,. an 1. from the satisfaction it has given during about two year
use, it fully believed to be a perfect protection against burglary.
J. A. RASBACH, Cash .
Osm hie Bank,
Linus Yali sq. Ogdi sbub Jan. 2 L856.
Pear Sir: Mr. I placed one of your Magic Locks upon our vault dou
which thus far me my approbation, and, I think, is not liable to get out of
order. We also purchased from him a Burglar-proof which, with prop*
locks, I think, can be regarded as such.
Very respectfully, your obedien T irvant,
E. N, MERRIAM, ! shier.
Fra>kfhkt Ba>k,
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Frani >rt, X. Y., Jan. 24, 1856.
Dear isi am in receipt of your fa r of the 19th inst. The Magic Lock and
Burglar-proof Vault Door furnished for this bank by S. Reminj d & Co. have
n end m ; and I most cheerfully add my testimoi m rl a ir favor,
I consider them equal, if not superior, to anything of the kind in use ; indeed,
I know none others for which I would exchan^- them.
Very respectfully, yours,
R. H. POMERY. < ashier.
Collector's < Office,
Wilmington, N. i ran. 29 ; 1 .
Dear Sir: Your Magic Locks and Burglar-proof Door and Safe, furnished I
custom-house * 3. Remington & Co,, ha given entir< Ltisi tion.
Very respectfullv, your tedient servant,
JAS. T. MILLER. Coll
Manchester, N. II.. Jan. 22, 1856.
Dear Sir : Your Lock works well and must set the ingenuity of the burglar at
defiance. The Safe is a safe compared with those in commonjise.
Respectfullv, yours,
MOODY CURRIER,
Cashier Amosk Bank'.
36
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Washington, D. ( Jan, 24, 1856-
Dear Sir: In reply to your favor of the 19th in st. f we beg to state that we
have fortunately no1 had occasion to fully test your Safe and Lock, but the lat-
ter works well, and we have every ponfidence in its solidity and safety.
Yours, &c«,
RIGGS k CO.
Hartford Life Insurance < pant,
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Hartford, Jan. 22, 1856.
Dear Sir : The Burglar-proof Door-, made by you. that are "ii the vault of the
building erected by the Hartford Lib" Insurance Con ny, are n sive, hi
beautiful and convenient. We are confident they will fully answer the purp
intended, making the vaults both fire and burglar proof.
Respectful! yours,
W. L. MILLER, Treasun
Linus Yale, Jjt.. 1 Chitti nk, Feb. 21, \i t.
Dear Sir: Y'our favor of the IMh in received. Your Magic Bank Lock
work- well — as well now as it did the f ! day it \ put on our vault door, and
in every particular gives perl satisfaction.
Yours, tru
D. H. RASBAi H, ( ashv .
1- i Plain B
Linus Yale. Port Plai Feb. 20, ]
Dear Sir: The lock I j.up h ; d of you la tin* Ma k
Lock, v in entire satisfaction. I am much plea I with it. I 1
lorn ch ( it in my estimation. I tal t j tsure in r<
commending it to ti pul Your-, truly,
A. A. BRADLEY, I ihu
Oneii'A I B
Linus Yale, Jr. J N. Y., Feb. 20, 1
Dear £ i tak I p ire in ding that M Bank J the
alt oi of this Bank, after rial oft ears to a chai ad that in
vour Bank J k is the sa t and most reliabl kin i
G. F. BICKNELL, t
L Yai b, Jr. Chk loo, I i B56.
Dear." M . Bank Lock ire purchased f a you in Maj last full
>ur id ind it all you represented it to I §V< I
it »j 1 oil ank Lo<k p
Your obedient its,
J. II. Brum l 0., I
Tee Cm Bi
Li V •■ir Jr., h Om
S Your M Bank Lock, furnished Mr dy, has now been j wi-
th nd ha- a til on.
I ph a i -mi iinz it to Bankers and Brokers f irit
di bility. d i tble to i ordi
Verv resp t fully,
* DEL DL WOLF,
37
New York, March 6, 1856.
We have had in use the past two years " Yale's Magic Lock," &c, furnished
us by Mr. Cady ; it works well, and gives entire satisfaction.
E. W. CLARK, DODGE & CO.
Bank op Cooperstowx,
Cooperstowx, March 1, 1856.
Having used one of " Yale's Magic Locks" for the last three years, I am pre-
pared to say that it has not only afforded entire satisfaction, but is, in my opin-
ion, the best Bank Lock now extant.
F. A. LEE, Cashier.
Elmira Bank,
Lotus Yale, Jr., Esq. Elmira, Feb. 25, 1856.
Dear Sir : Your Magic Bank Lock has given us entire satisfaction. It has
been in use since 1st of Nov., 1853, and works easy, and has never been out of
order.
We think it a most excellent and elegant lock.
Respectfully,
F. P. FAIBMAN, Cashier.
Burnet Bank,
Linus Yale, Jr. Syracuse, Feb. 23, 185G.
Sir: Mr. Cady furnished one of your Magic Bank Locks for our chilled iron
safe or chest, and we regard it as just what we want. It gives entire satisfaction
and I cheerfully commend it to all Bankers.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN D. PECK, Cashier.
Juns< Bank,
L. Yale, Jr., Esq. Ogdensburg, Feb. 22, 185G.
Dear Sir: The Lock (Ya 3 Magic Infallible) furnished for this bank through
your agent, Mr. Cady, about a year since, we are much pleased with. I con-
sider it one of the best Locks now in use, and seems to me to afford better secur-
ity against burglars, and less liable to get out of order than any other I have
examined. . Respectfully yours,
J. D. JUDSON, President.
Briggs Bank,
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. Clyde, N. Y., April 30, l>.~tj.
Dear Sir: You have doubtless been informed by your agent (Mr. Cady) that
we have purchased of him, during the last winter, one of those highly approved
Chilled Iron Burglar-proof Safes, with your Magic Infallible Bank Lock attached.
About two months since, during a dark and stormy night, our Bank was en-
tered by burglars through an adjoining cellar wall, and the vault (which was
built of brick), was pierced, which left us without any other protection than the
safe and lock above referred to, and this we deem sufficient, for they successfully
resisted all the various devices and expedients known and practised by bur-
glars.
We have the most implicit confidence in their strength and safety, and feel
assured that when once locked, we are more secure than we should be with any
other safe and lock ever yet invented.
Yours respectfully,
Wm. H. COFFIN, Cashier.
o
Oswego Riveb Bank,
Li Yale, Jr. Fultow, N. Y., 1 , 1856.
Sir : During the month of November 1 I conti ted with J. L. < !ad;
' for one of jour Mag Bank Locks and a (/hilled Iron E e. I take g it j
in recommending both to those who have use for this kind of jm l, believ-
ing, as I do, that it perfectly impossible for any burglar, hou er skilled in
his art, to effect an entrance into this safe either through, the lock or the body
of the s
The lock has been the wonder and admirati"n of those who have had the
opportunity of examining it; and our Board of Directors are led
with both lock and safe.
Yours truly,
D. W. GARDNER, Cash ,
< j :ntkal BANK o B LVJT,
Linus Yale, Jr., Esq. J okj 1856-
Dj k: * * I would that the lock (Mi Ban furnished I
Mr. Cady has been on one of our - s and in i ontinuo for nearly tli
years, to our entire satisfaction.
Very r ally 3
i DWARD COPELAND.
s B
Lib Yale, Jr., Esq. P . 22, U
bab 5 ur I illible Bank Lock has, I I I 1 1 1 our
illed Iron Safe for about two ; 1 s.
I woulddo injusti If if I did noi m< em] that I am
]•! ed with I 1 want 1 Lc k, BhouL
I • r any ,t I 1 - mined or ha? \\ I
*
J. lly
B. !
A', respc tfally refer to the following gentlen t, public institutions,
ho a portion of those ing our work.
H .• i .1 1 ,,.
uj ing ' D. S. I 6
r I'. B. Do. do. B
I ' W Do. do. . j.
D.(
An !'. B. Ti D
>. C.
]
I
]'<-». . do. Wiln C.
Do. d On
Do. . I i,u
Do. do. (
J)... do
Do. j ibi
P B
W ".D All.au.
39
I tUNCAir, Sherman & Co., Bankers, N. Y.
E, W. Clark, Dodge & Co., do. do.
Bank of the State op New York, do!
Do. do. Republic, do.
Do. do. Union, do.'
Knickerbocker Bank, do."
People's Bank, do!
Chatham Bank, do."
East River B k, do*.
Dry-Dock B e, do.*
Mechanics' Bank, do!
Seaman's Savings Bank, do."
S. Hammond, Esq., Exchange Build-
„ in S» do.
Central Bank, Brooklyn, L. I.
Mechanics' Bank, do. do.
Bank of Brooklyn, do. do.
Williamsburg City Bank, Williams-
burg' do.
Broadway Bank, South Boston. Mass.
Savings Bank, Temple Place, Boston.
E. W. i rk &('«,., St. Louis, 111.
Marine Bank, Chicago, do.
Chic.' i do. do. d<
Oneida Co. do. Utica, N. 1
Conn. River Banking Co., Hartford,
Conn.
Fort Plan Bank, Fort Plain, N. V.
Frontier Bank, Pottsdam, N. Y.
Hartford Life Ins. Co., Hartford, Conn.
H a i r< >n B a nk, Hamilton, N. Y.
Judson's Bank, St. Lawrence, do.
o City Bank, Oswego, do.
On kida Central Bank, Rome, do.
Port Stanwix do. do. do.
American Express Co., Utica, do.
Urn a City Bank, do. do.
Bank of Utica, do. do.
Do. oi hemung, Elmira, d<>.
Do. of Lyndon, Lyndon, Vt.
Do. of Weedsport, Weedsport, N. Y.
I'". of' i'i.rstown, Cooperstown, do.
Do. of Rome, Rome, do.
Dairyman's Bank, Newport, do.
Ilion do. Ilion, do.
Susquehanna Valley Bank, Bing-
ham pton, do.
Syracuse City Bank, Syracuse, do.
Geo. P. Bissell & Co., Bankers, Hart-
ford, Conn.
John E. Buckingham, Esq., Washington,
D. C.
Isaac Carey, Esq., Pres't N. E. Bank
Note Co., Boston, Mass.
Alex. Cruikshanks, Esq., Peru, 111.
N. Gilbert, ., Chicago, do.
S. Bronson, Esq., do. do.
Erastus Wright, Esq., Springfield, do.
Hayward, Bartlett & Co., Baltimore,
Md.
Exchange Bank,
City do.
Amoskeag do.
Bank of Memphis,
Burnet Bank,
Exchange do.
Elmira do.
Haverhill do.
Essex do.
Union do.
Lip tt & Barr,
Hartford, Conn,
do. do.
Manchester, N. H.
Memphis, Tenn.
Syracuse, N. II.
Rome, N. Y.
Elmira, do.
Haverhill, Mass.
do. do.
do. do.
Pittsburg, Pa
C. Warriner, Esq., Washington, D. C.
Samuel Hammond, Esq., do. do.
Bogy, Miltknberger&Co., St. Louis,Mo.
Albany City Bank, Albany, N. Y.
Albany Exchange Bank, do. do.
A hams Bank, Ashford, do.
Fayettbvillb Bank, Fayetteville, do.
Weedsport Bank, Weedsport, do.
Oswegatchie Bank, Ogdensburg, N. Y.
Fulton Co. Bank, Gloversville, do.
Metacomet Ban k, Fall 11 i ver, Mass.
Oswego River Bank, Fulton, N. Y.
Briggs I! Clyde, do.
West Winfield Bank, West' W infield
N. Y.
Pulaski Bank, Pulaski, N. Y.
Farmi and Mechanics' Bank, Hart-
ford, " '>nn.
Bank of Hartford County, Hartford,
Conn.
MiDDi.KiwN Bank, Middletown, Conn.
H alley Falls do. IL.lvoke, Ma.ss.
Mechanics' do. Worcester, do.
Institution wings, N. Bedford, do.
Merrimack Bank, II rhill, do.
Bank < i Royalty Royal ton, Vt.
Do. of Bra] rd, Bradford, do.
Do. of Commerce, Bangor, Me.
Erie Bank, Dunkirk, N. Y.
Bank ■ Binghampton, Binghampton,
N. Y.
Janesville City Bank, Wisconsin.
Bank of Chittenango, N. Y.
Frankfort Bank, Frankfort, do.*
Herkimer Co. Bank, Little Falls, do.
Agricultural Ba,\k, Herkimer, do.
Ioiiawk Valley Bank, Mohawk,' do.
Spraker's Bank, Canajoharie, do.
Exchange Bank, Hamilton, do.
Onondaga Co. Bank, Syracuse, do.
Union Bank, Rochester, do.
ank of Plattsburg, Plattsburg, do.
Savings Bank, Mobile, Ala.,
Bank of Toledo, Toledo 0.
Champaign Co. Bank, Urbana,'do!
Franklin Bank, do. do.
Society for Savings, Hartford, Conn!
Exchange Bakk, Columbus, 0.
and many others.
r
*